Wrasse help!

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Hello everyone, I picked up a red head solon fairy wrasse from my lfs on Saturday. Day 1 acts completely normal and spends the whole day with my kole tang. Day 2 a repeat of the first day and even eats some food. Day three when the lights come on he is laying behind a rock and he stays there almost the whole day. He came out at least 3 times today for about 2-3 minutes. His breathing is normal and I do not see any visible parasite.

There is a picture of him behind the rock. I have no idea what's wrong with.

Temp 81.2
Salinity 1.025
Nitrate less than 5
Phosphate 0
Ammonia 0

No idea what's wrong and would hate for him to die as he was a gift. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Forgot to add this. When he comes out he swims normal and everything a healthy fish would be doing.

 

[currentking]

i got one about 3 weeks ago and she does the same thing. there are times she is out with other fish and there are times that she doesn't come out. mine scratches his head against a rock every so often. very healthy and eats a lot.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

But how long is yours in the rocks? Mine stayed in the rock for all but 10 minutes when I had the lights on.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

bump

 

[dtankh]

Could the fishes have been caught using cyanide? Sounds like symptoms of cyanide poisoning. Does it release white poo?

 

[ReeferRookie]

Maybe ur tang is picking on him ?

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

I haven't really seen him poop, but i will keep an eye out for him. And my tang has chased him maybe once or twice, but most of the time they are swimming together. And as of now he survived the night

 

[ReeferRookie]

He might be getting picked on.at night by the other fish probably ur tang from what ive heard they can be bullies

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

At night the tang goes into the rock work and sleeps. I really hope it is a bullying issue and not something else. The tang is smaller than the wrasse.

 

[ReeferRookie]

The tang is smaller. Hmmmm then he might not be bullying. Any other larger fish ?

 

[evolved]

Indicative of stress, typically from harassment of another tankmate.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Just keep an eye on the new addition and it's interactions with your existing fish. To help it settle in to your feeding style and care you could of quarantined the fish, or at the least used a social acclimation box to keep established fishes from being able to physically interact. Since we're past that I recommend feeding heavy (obviously avoiding excess waste - just feed more frequently than normal) until the fish seems to settle in. Definitely watch for aggression from existing tank mates while you're not hovering over the tank... sit back in the room with all ambient lighting off (just tank lights on) and observe without moving much. Fish are like little kids in that they'll behave one way when adults are around, and completely different as soon as the powers at be are out of sight. You may find some very interesting interactions are taking place causing your new addition to hide most of thee "day". Or you may find it's a goofy fish that will just take longer to settle in and act "normal".

probably ur tang from what ive heard they can be bullies

Any established fish can, and generally will, be a bully to new fishes.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Only the wrasse and the tang, but the tang was added first. So what do you thin will happen to the wrasse?

 

[ReeferRookie]

One of my clowns was this way. And it was when. I first added him. My chromis was bullying him. They eventually settled into each other and all have been fine

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Update.
Still hiding in the rocks. Looks normal. Breathing normal but is not interested in the food at the moment. Do you think he will live?

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Just came out, but I had to leave so I won't be able to see how long he stays out. Hopefully he is stil out when I come home.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Now he is back hiding.

 

[c_healy]

He may just be stressed. When I got my flame wrasses they were out all day the first 3 days, then suddenly started hiding. Stopped after about a week.

Did you treat for flukes when you get him?

I wouldnt worry too much as long as he is still healthy and eating.